Adair County Humane Society calls for PALs in curbing pet population

Saturday

Mar 9, 2013 at 7:46 AMMar 9, 2013 at 7:57 AM

March program provides discounts for spay/neutering of pets

Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Left to their own devices, the about 500 dogs spayed or neutered as part of the Adair County Humane Society’s “Be a PAL - Prevent a Litter” campaign over the past three years could have given birth to a conservative estimate of 2,500 puppies.

That would be 2,500 puppies that would need homes; 2,500 puppies that would need shots, dewormings, spaying and neutering of their own and 2,500 hungry puppy mouths.

Through its annual “PAL” campaign, the local shelter has helped lower the number of homeless animals it sees brought to its door and the number of animals that go without adoption and thanks to its partnerships with local veterinarians, the about 500 dogs neutered or spayed haven’t gone on to create little pups of their own.

The event is held in March as spring nears and animals, both domestic and wild, become more active and naturally increase mating.

“We usually see a rise in our intake [of strays] at the shelter through May, June and July,” said Bridget Thomas, shelter board member and volunteer, of those animals conceived during the winter months. “With litters of puppies and kitties coming in, it’s kind of heartbreaking seeing them all come in.”

The local humane society distributed 140 spay/neuter certificates for a discount at area veterinarians for dogs and cats to be fixed during two events in February and during March is partnering with those veterinarians for reduced spay/neuter procedures rates all month.

“We have had a decrease in puppies and kitties brought in,” said Missy Decker, manger of the shelter, since the program’s inception three years ago. “But it’s also helped a lot of people be able to keep their animals.”

Decker said pets, especially dogs, are commonly brought to the shelter due to behavior like spraying or marking of territory, male dominant behavior especially toward children or roaming tendencies that can often be curbed by spaying or neutering

“It helps with health issues as well, like it prevents testicular cancer which could be costly and also tough to see a pet go through,” she said.

While the certificates were limited to the first 140 applicants, the area veterinarians’ reduced rates are available for all. The discounts account for an about 25 to 50 percent reduction in price, with costs varying for dogs and cats based on their size.

Both the certificates and the reduced procedure fees are provided through both local donations and an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant.

“Without these donations, this program wouldn’t and couldn’t happen,” Thomas said of the about $3,000 in local donations and $3,000 grant. The financial assistance allows the humane society to conduct the PAL program without dipping into its own operating budget.

And the years of discounted procedures have made an impact, with fewer animals being dropped off at the shelter than before the first PAL program in 2009.

In the year prior to the first PAL program, the shelter took in about 1,150 dogs. Currently, the shelter takes in about 750 dogs a year. For cats, the shelter took in 333 cats in 2012, less than the nearly 600 brought in 2009.

With fewer animals being brought in, the shelter is able to help reduce number of unwanted animals in need of adopted homes, even if it does mean fewer of those photogenic and appealing puppies and kittens, Thomas said.

“Everyone is always all over the puppy pictures,” she said. “But when you start talking about the challenge of finding a home for those puppies, it’s tough. Spaying and neutering is not a sexy topic. It’s about preventing the birth of animals and really about preventing that one animal from turning into eight.”

Participating veterinarians

A list of the seven area veterinary offices that are offering reduced spay/neuter rates as part of the local PAL campaign in March.